The International Committee of Mediterranean Games ( French : Comité international des Jeux méditerranéens , CIJM ) is the organization of the National Olympic Committees who presides, regulates and organizes the Mediterranean Games . It is based in sport complex OACA in Athens .
9-763: During the 3rd edition of the Mediterranean Games in 1959 in Beirut , the head of the organization and the president of the Lebanese Olympic Committee Gabriel Jemayel, also International Olympic Committee member, realized that the existence of these Games was fragile and therefore decided to create the CIJM which intervened officially on 16 June 1961. Of all the National Olympic Committees within
18-427: A total of 106 medal events from 17 different sports . At the end of the competition, France was on top again. The United Arab Republic (UAR), participating for the first time, came in second, and Turkey came third. The following is a list of nations that participated in the 1959 Mediterranean Games: The 1959 Mediterranean Games sports program featured 106 men-only events in 16 sports. The number in parentheses next to
27-602: The 1959 Mediterranean Games Lebanon hosted the 3rd Mediterranean Games in Camille Chamoun sports city in Beirut . The event took place from 11 to 23 October 1959. 11 nations were represented by a total of 792 athletes, all males, competing in 17 sports of 106 events. France came first: its 66 athletes won 69 medals (26 gold), while the host country, Lebanon, with the most athletes (180), came 8th with 30 medals (only 3 golds). The United Arab Republic, participating for
36-697: The Olympic Movement bordering the Mediterranean Sea, Israel and Palestine have not participated in the games, nor has Great Britain who represents the British Overseas Territory of Gibraltar and Akrotiri and Dhekelia . In the case of Israel , Allen Guttman in The Games Must Go On argued that Israel's exclusion is both antisemitic and politically motivated due to antagonism towards Israel by
45-527: The first time in the 2018 Mediterranean Games in Tarragona , Spain. Portugal competed in the 2018 Mediterranean Games after a decision which approved Portugal as effective National Olympic Committee. The Hellenic Olympic Committee has suggested that nine more countries that do not satisfy geographic criteria could be allowed to participate, such as Bulgaria , and some Arab countries such as Jordan and Iraq . At present, 26 countries participate in
54-745: The games: 1959 Mediterranean Games The 1959 Mediterranean Games , officially known as the III Mediterranean Games , and commonly known as Beirut 1959 , were the 3rd Mediterranean Games . After visiting Africa and Europe , the Mediterranean Games were for the first time held in Asia in Beirut , Lebanon , thus completing the trio of continents belonging to the Mediterranean Sea . The Games took place over 12 days, from 11 to 23 October 1959. There were 792 athletes (all men) from 11 countries participating. There were
63-482: The participating Arab nations . The IOC's Avery Brundage was not supportive of Israel's desire to compete, saying: "I cannot understand why anyone wants to go where he is not wanted". The International Amateur Athletics Federation pushed the issue at the 1959 Mediterranean Games in Beirut by refusing to grant permission to hold an athletics competition unless Israel were allowed to compete. Lebanese games organizer Gabriel Gemayel conceded to this, but sidestepped
72-588: The ruling by holding a parallel Lebanese Games comprising athletics events between the present nations alongside the official Mediterranean Games competitions. There are countries not bordering the Mediterranean Sea which nonetheless participate: Portugal , Andorra , Kosovo , San Marino , Serbia and North Macedonia . Kosovo was accepted as a member of the International Committee of Mediterranean Games in October 2015 and participated for
81-408: The sport is the number of medal events per sport. Three sports from the 1955 games – field hockey, roller hockey and rugby – were all dropped from the program. Rowing competition also was not held. In wrestling, 8 Freestyle events returned having skipped 1955, and in sailing only one event was held (down from three in 1955). * Host nation ( Lebanon ) Lebanon at
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